Preserve Beautiful Flower Petals With This DIY Jar Idea

Flowers hold a lot of sentimental value. Whether it's your wedding bouquet, flowers from an event, or blooms from your own garden, each petal is meaningful. Unfortunately, flowers wilt within two to five days, even if you try ways to keep your cut flowers fresh longer. If you want to maintain their beauty, preserving the flower petals lets you hold onto pieces of those special moments forever.

There are many methods to preserve flowers, but an easy and fun way is to create your own DIY flower petal jar. This simple project helps you keep those petals looking lovely, and you can display the jar as a keepsake in your home. What's more, all you need are fresh flower petals, a clean, dry glass jar with a lid (look for wide-mouth mason jars, like this six-pack for $19 on Amazon), silica gel, a plastic container, scissors, a small brush, tweezers, and any other pieces of decor you want to put on the jar (ribbon, labels, stickers, etc.). Here are the quick and easy steps to do it.

First, pick the flower petals you want to preserve. Preferably, they should be fresh and free from any discoloration. Then, dry your flowers so they retain their shape and natural colors. One popular method is using silica gel. Silica gel is a moisture-absorbing material that's great for drying flowers because it speeds up the process and helps keep the petals from wrinkling. It also works better for delicate blooms like roses, lilacs, and daffodils. Panacea produces silica gel specifically for drying flowers for $15 at Walmart. To dry the petals, place a layer of silica gel at the bottom of a plastic container. Arrange the petals on top without overlapping, then cover them with more silica gel. Seal the container and let it sit for two days up to a week. The time it takes for flowers to dry depends on how thick your petals are. Once they're dry, use a soft brush to dust off any leftover crystals from the flowers.

Alternatively, you can simply air-dry the petals by placing them on a flat surface in a cool, dark place for about a week. They'll be dry enough when they feel like paper. Next, spray them with unscented hairspray. Doing so will help the petals stay intact and keep their colors from fading too quickly over time. The air-dry method is more accessible for those who don't want to purchase extra supplies, making it a convenient option.

When your petals are all nice and dry, you can put together your jar. But make sure the jar is completely clean and dry so that no moisture ruins those beautiful petals. If there's any moisture or dampness in the jar, mold could grow, and the petals could start to break down. Once you're sure it's clean and dry, gently place the dried petals in the jar, either layering them or arranging them in the pattern you like. You can use tweezers to move the petals around if you're a bit clumsy with your fingers. And don't be afraid to get creative with your flower jar and personalize it. You can add ribbons, twine, labels, or stickers to the outside for a cute, charming touch. Labeling it will also help you remember the memory behind the blooms.

Once you're done, find a special spot in your home to show off your DIY project. It could be on a windowsill, a shelf, or even as a table centerpiece. The jar will be a lovely everyday reminder of precious moments. Plus, it's a unique piece of decor that you made yourself, and you can tell your friends and family about it.